Acuff Circle of Excellence seeking nominations

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The coveted Acuff Circle of Excellence Ovation Awards in the arts will be presented March 6, 2016, but nominations already are being sought.

The Circle, a non-profit organization affiliated with the Austin Peay State University Foundation, is a patron society of the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts. The awards have been presented since 1996.

The nominees must have made significant contributions to the artistic and cultural life of the Clarksville-Montgomery County community. Anyone can submit nominations. Nominations will be accepted now through Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016

Community: A Clarksville-Montgomery County community organization or institution with an outstanding arts-based community program or project. Schools and the school district are not eligible in this category. Previous winners include the Downtown Clarksville Association, Roxy Regional Theatre, Empty Bowls of Clarksville,Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Downtown Artists Co-Op.

Business: A business or corporation that has made a significant contribution to support arts and culture in Montgomery County. Government agencies are not eligible. Past winners include F&M Bank, Silke's Olde World Breads, The Leaf-Chronicle, Beachaven Vineyards and Winery, The Framemaker and Planters Bank.

Young Artist: A high school senior in Clarksville-Montgomery County who has shown exceptional gifts through student or community performances, exhibitions or publications. Category awards are visual arts, theatre, instrumental music, vocal performance and creative writing. Winners in each category also receive preference when applying for the annual $1,000 endowed scholarship in the arts, which the Acuff Circle has established at Austin Peay. Past winners include Webb Booth, Elizabeth Coleman, Autumn Crofton, Haedyn King and Hugh Poland with the Roxy School of the Arts; Abigail Elmore, Northwest High School; Elizabeth Bell, Kenwood; Brittney Griffin, Montgomery Central; Clare Grady, Clarksville; Will Silvers, West Creek; Jeremy Carey, Northeast; Kayleigh Baird, Montgomery Central; Amy Wyer, West Creek; Terrell Boykin, Kenwood; and Arizona Hurn, Montgomery Central.

Deadline for nominations in the Young Artist category is Dec. 18, 2015.

The Ovation Awards also include The George Mabry Award. Nominees for this honor come from the Acuff Circle board. It recognizes a living Tennessean who has made a significant impact on arts and culture in Montgomery County through philanthropy, leadership or direct involvement, or a Tennessee individual who has advanced arts and culture through innovative work in creating or supporting the arts in Montgomery County. Past winners include Frank Lott, Anne Glass, Olen Bryant. David Alford, Joseph B. Trahern Jr. and Joe Giles.

To nominate someone in the Individual, Community, Business or Young Artist categories, submit a completed nomination form that can be downloaded at www.apsu.edu/creativearts/ovation. Forms for the Individual, Community or Business categories also can be obtained at the Customs House Museum, which co-sponsors the awards ceremony; the Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, or the Clarksville Area Chamber of Commerce.

The nomination should include a description of up to 250 words of the individual's or organization's artistic contributions. Nominations can be emailed to cannonm@apsu.edu at the Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, or mailed to Ovation Awards, Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts, Austin Peay State University, Box 4666, Clarksville, TN 37044.

For more information on the nomination process or the Ovation Awards, contact the Center at (931) 221-7876.